MORE BIRDS

I have denied myself cute birdhouses all these years because I resented birds and didn't want to be hypocritical.  They ate the chicken feed and pooped all over the yard tools in the barn; they ate ALL the cherries off my trees and pooped all over the driveway.  So I find it odd how taken with birds I am here in California.

The latest sighting is of a pelican!  Right in my apartment complex, on the very top of a huge tree.  Seriously, right on top of the tree.  It makes me wonder how many things I don't notice at home in the busyness of life.

The mission got off to a rocky start this year.  There were four automobile accidents in the first week of January.  Yesterday a bike/car accident was phoned in.  The Church keeps their fleet in pristine condition, so every little bump and scrape is attended to, and it's costly.

Last night I got to help caravan a family of 10 to the Temple for a tour.  Elders Walker and Haufano had invited an investigator and her 9 children (5 of her own and 4 of her brother's, who is incarcerated).  They arranged for a ward member with a van for most of the kids, and I drove the mom and two youngest children.  The elders had even arranged for car seats for the little ones.  (I don't know why that surprises me.)  It was cold and the kids were rambunctious, but what a sweet experience.  The kids were smart and absolutely beautiful.  The mom is my new hero.  She's set a date to be baptized on the 22nd of this month.